Modular and detachable fairing for a motocycle

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for providing a modular fairing configured to attach to a front portion of a motorcycle. The modular fairing  110, 300  includes a fairing frame member  120, 301 , multiple coupling portions and at least one flexible fairing cover portion  150, 304 . The fairing frame member may include multiple support members  121, 302  operable to be removably coupled to each other to form the fairing frame member. The multiple coupling portions extend from the fairing frame member and are configured to removably couple the frame member to the front portion of the motorcycle. The at least one flexible fairing cover portion includes a face portion and an attachment portion and is operable to be removably attached to and at least partially cover the fairing frame member. With this arrangement, the fairing frame member is detachable from the front portion of the motorcycle and operable to be folded or reconfigured  310  into a smaller configuration  312  for storing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to motorcycle components. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a removable fairing for amotorcycle.

2. Related Art

Motorcycles are often provided with a fairing at the front portion ofthe motorcycle. Such a fairing is made to reduce wind resistance whiledriving the motorcycle and provide a different overall aestheticappearance to the motorcycle. Fairings are typically non-removable andfixed to the frame of the motorcycle and typically include an innerpanel and an outer panel. The inner panel typically accommodates variousgauge members, such as a speedometer, an oil pressure meter and atemperature meter. The outer panel typically accommodates a head-lightand generally may have a small panel that can be removed for servicingsome of the components displayed on the inner panel.

For aesthetic purposes, there are many motorcycles that do not provide afairing at the front portion of the motorcycle. However, these types ofmotorcycles will often include a windshield to help minimize fatigueduring long distance highway travel caused from the wind on the exposedupper body of the biker while riding on the motorcycle. U.S. Pat. No.5,658,035 to Armstrong, assigned to Harley-Davidson Motor Company,discloses a detachable windshield that can quickly be attached for longdistance highway travel and detached from the motorcycle for lower speedstreet travel. Although such detachable windshield is favorable for longdistance highway travel, the configuration of the detachable windshieldis relatively narrow, thereby, still allowing large amounts of air flowagainst a biker's body to cause fatigue during long distance highwaytravel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing aremovable fairing configured to attach to a front portion of amotorcycle. The fairing includes a fairing frame member, multiplecoupling portions, and at least one flexible fairing cover portion. Thefairing frame member provides a rigid section that defines the shape forthe fairing. The multiple coupling portions are positioned on thefairing frame member and are configured to removably couple the framemember to the front portion of the motorcycle. The at least one flexiblefairing cover portion includes a face portion and an attachment portionand is operable to at least partially cover the fairing frame member.With this arrangement, the fairing frame member along with the flexiblefairing cover is detachable from the front portion of the motorcycle andoperable to be reconfigured into a smaller configuration for storing.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example,features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side, plan view of a motorcycle with a fairingattached to the front portion of the motorcycle;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a modular fairing,depicting a disassembled fairing frame and first and second flexiblecover portions, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2(a) illustrates an enlarged view of encircled section 2 in FIG. 2,depicting disassembled end portions of different components of thefairing frame member slidingly attachable and detachable with respect toeach other and depicting a line member that can extend between thedifferent components, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective front view of a partially assembledmodular fairing, depicting the fairing frame assembled with one of theflexible cover portions attached to the fairing frame;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective rear view of an assembled modularfairing, depicting upper coupling portions partially exposed at an upperportion of the modular fairing and depicting the lower coupling portionexposed below a bottom portion of the modular fairing;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the assembled modular fairingand a front portion of a motorcycle, depicting the modular fairing beingattachable to and removable from the front portion of the motorcycle;

FIG. 5(a) illustrates a partial perspective view of the modular fairingattached to the front portion of the motorcycle, depicting (in outline)upper and lower coupling portions coupled to fairing attachmentportions;

FIG. 5(b) illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a fairingattachment portion taken from encircled section 5 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the lower coupling portion coupled toa fairing attachment portion, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the upper coupling portion coupled toa fairing attachment portion, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of another embodiment of a fairingattachment portion, depicting the upper coupling portion coupled to thefairing attachment portion;

FIG. 9 illustrates a fairing in accordance with an alternative,embodiment to the present invention; and

FIG. 9(a) illustrates the fairing of FIG. 9, depicting the fairing beingattachable to and removable from the front portion of the motorcycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe thesame. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scopeof the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and furthermodifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, andadditional applications of the principles of the inventions asillustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant artand having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered withinthe scope of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a removable fairing 110 configured to attach toa front portion 102 of a motorcycle 100. Such a motorcycle 100 can beany suitable type of motorcycle and preferably is of the type without afixed fairing disposed at the front portion thereof. The removablefairing 110 can be mounted to a motorcycle 100 having a windshield 108,but is not so limited, as the windshield is not a necessary componentfor attaching the fairing 110 to the motorcycle 100.

The removable fairing 110 is configured to allow a biker to readilyattach and detach the fairing 110 to and from the front portion 102 ofthe motorcycle 100 without the use of tools. The fairing 110 includes amodular configuration that facilitates quick and ready disassembly intosmaller compact components as well as facilitates quick and readyassembly from such compact components to form the fairing 110. Suchmodular configuration allows the biker to store the smaller compactcomponents in, for example, a saddle-bag 106 on the motorcycle 100. Withthis arrangement, a biker can readily interchange between riding withand without the fairing 110 as desired. Such versatility of the fairingmakes for a useful component for motorcycle owners since often whentraveling long distances at free-way speeds, the fairing 110substantially breaks the air flow to the biker to substantially minimizefatigue during long distance highway travel. On the hand, the biker can,at any time desired, detach the fairing 110 and break-down orreconfigure the modular fairing 110 into a smaller configuration forstoring with the motorcycle 100 during lower speed street travel.

Such a fairing 110 includes a fairing frame member 120 to at leastpartially define the shape of the fairing and a fairing cover 150 sizedand configured to be at least partially wrapped around the fairing framemember 120. In this case the fairing frame member 120 is comprised ofmultiple modular support members 121 which are sized and configured tobe coupled together for ready assembly as well as decoupled fordisassembly. The multiple support members create a skeletal outline ofthe fairing frame member 120 when assembled. The fairing frame member120 also includes, but is not limited to, lower and upper couplingportions 160 and 170 extending from the fairing frame member 120. Suchcoupling portions can be fixed to the fairing frame member 120 by anysuitable fastening means, such as by welding and/or a fastener typearrangement. The lower and upper coupling portions 160 and 170 areconfigured to facilitate attachment of the fairing 110 to the frontportion 102 of the motorcycle 100. Such coupling portions can bepositioned and located on the fairing frame member 120 at any suitablelocation, depending upon the configuration of the front portion 102 ofthe motorcycle 100 to facilitate attachment thereto. Otherwise said,there are many types of motorcycles with various types of configurationsin which the position and location of the coupling portions can varydepending upon the configuration of the front portion of the motorcycleto which the fairing 110 is to attach.

With respect to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the fairing frame member 120can be formed of multiple support members including, for example, amiddle portion 122, first and second side portions 124 and 126 andintermediate portions 128. The support-members can each be formed atleast partially from shafts or rods having a tubular and/or solidcross-section. The middle portion 122 can include a top member 130 and abottom member 132 with two middle extensions 134 extending laterallybetween the top member 130 and bottom member 132 and fixedly coupledtherebetween. The middle portion 122 can also include a circular member136 and a support shield 135 each disposed between the two middleextensions 134. The circular member 136 is sized and configured to bedisposed around a head-light 104 at the front portion 102 of themotorcycle 100 (FIG. 1). The support shield 135 can be positioned abovethe circular member 136 between the middle extensions 134 to provideadditional support for the fairing cover 150.

The first and second side portions 124 and 126 can each include aperipheral side member 138 extending in a generally U-shapedconfiguration. The peripheral side member 138 can include variouscontours and bows depending on the aesthetic configuration desired. Eachof the first and second side portions 124 and 126 can include one ormore extension members 139 fixedly coupled and extending laterallybetween opposing portions of the U-shaped peripheral side member 138.The intermediate portions 128 can include, but is not limited to, alength with a slight curvature.

With this arrangement, the intermediate portions 128 can be configuredto be coupled between each end of the top member 138 of the middleportion 122 and an upper end portion of the peripheral side members 138of the respective first and second side portions 124 and 126. Each endof the bottom member 132 of the middle portion 122 can be configured tocouple to a lower end portion of the peripheral side members 138 of therespective first and second side portions 124 and 126. As such, each ofthe middle portion 122, intermediate portions 128 and the first andsecond side portions 124 and 126 can be coupled together to form thefairing frame member 120. The fairing frame member 120 can be formedfrom any suitable material as known to one of ordinary skill in the art,such as, steel, brass, copper, aluminum, and/or alloys thereof, orcomposite materials, or any other suitable material, such as fiberglass,graphite and/or high-strength polymeric-type material.

With respect to FIGS. 2 and 2(a), as previously set forth, the varioussupport members can be at least partially formed with a tubularconfiguration so that each of the support members can be coupledtogether in a telescopic or mating arrangement. For example, a top endportion 142 of the top member 130 of the middle portion 122 and anintermediate end portion 146 of one of the intermediate portions 128 canbe separated and re-joined in a mating arrangement as indicated byarrows 147 and 149. More specifically, the top end portion 142 caninclude an insert portion 144 with an outer diameter that can beslidingly positioned within and removed from a tubular opening 148 ofthe intermediate end portion 146. In this manner, the tubular opening148 defined by the intermediate end portion 146 can receive the insertportion 144 to secure the intermediate end portion 128 and the topmember 130 with an interference type fit as well as be slidinglyseparated to disassemble the fairing frame member 120. Likewise, asimilar arrangement can be implemented at corresponding end portions ofeach of the intermediate portions 128, the middle portion 122 and thefirst and second side portions 124 and 126 to facilitate readydisassembly and assembly of the fairing frame member 120.

In one embodiment, one or more line members 145 having an. elasticitycharacteristic can extend at least partially along a longitudinal lengththrough an inside of the tubular configuration of each of the first andsecond side portions 124 and 126, the intermediate portions 128 and themiddle portion 122. Such one or more line members 145 can be operable tomaintain the components of the fairing frame member 120 in their orderedposition when the fairing frame member 120 is disassembled and placedinto storage. Further, the one or more line members 145 prevent losingthe disassembled components as well as facilitate ready assembly of thefairing frame member 120.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the various support members can beassembled together at their respective end portions, as previouslydescribed with respect to FIG. 2(a), to form the fairing frame member120, after which, the fairing cover 150 can be attached thereto. Thefairing cover 150 is sized and configured to at least partially attachto and/or wrap around the fairing frame member 120. The fairing cover150 is formed of a flexible material and is configured to facilitateeasy attachment to and removal from the fairing frame member 120. Thefairing cover 150 can include a first and second cover portion 152 and154 each including attachment portions 156 and a face surface 158. Sucha fairing cover 150 can be formed from any suitable flexible material,such as, canvas, vinyl, polymeric blends, leather, synthetic leather andany other suitable material known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The first and second cover portions 152 and 154 can be sized andconfigured so that the attachment portions 156 wrap around a peripheryof the fairing frame member 120 and around respective sides of an insideperiphery of the circular member 136. As such, the first and secondcover portions 152 and 154 are attached to the fairing frame member 120with the face surface 158 facing outward with respect to the frontportion of the motorcycle (not shown). The attachment portions 156 caninclude a means for attaching to the frame member, such as snaps 155sized and configured to attach to tabs 159 extending from the fairingframe member 120. Such snaps 155 can be positioned along the peripheryof each of the first and second cover portions 152 and 154 so that thesnaps 155 formed in the attachment portions 156 wrap around theperiphery of the frame member 120 and attach to the tabs 159. Othersuitable attachment means can also be employed for the attachmentportions 156, such as straps, releasable loops, Velcro or any othersuitable attachment means known to one of ordinary skill in the art thatallows ready attachment and removal of the first and second coverportions 152 and 154 with respect to the fairing frame member 120.

The attachment portions 156 can also include slots 157 extendingtherethrough positioned at upper portions of the first and second coverportions 152 and 154. Such slots 157 can be positioned and configured toreceive the upper coupling portions 170 extending from an upper portionof the fairing frame member 120. With this arrangement, the uppercoupling portions 170 extend through the slots 157 in an exposed mannerto couple to the front portion of the motorcycle (not shown).

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 5(a), the assembled modular fairing 110 canbe readily attached and detached from the front portion 102 of themotorcycle 100, as indicated by bi-directional arrow 137. The circularmember 136 (FIG. 3) defined in the frame member 120 provides an opening135 in the modular fairing 110 sized and configured to be disposedaround the head-light 104 of the motorcycle 100. The front portion 102of the motorcycle 100 can include fairing attachment portions 180configured to couple with the lower coupling portion 160 and the uppercoupling portions 170 extending from the fairing frame member 120. Suchfairing attachment portions 180 can be positioned at any suitablelocation on the front portion 102 of the motorcycle 100 as suchlocations for the fairing attachment portions 180 will vary withdifferently configured and types of motorcycles. For example, thefairing attachment portions 180 can be configured to be secured toportions of a windshield 108 for coupling to the upper coupling portions170 of the fairing frame member 120. Likewise, a fairing attachmentportion 180 can be positioned and secured below the head-light 104 forcoupling to the lower coupling portion 160 of the fairing frame member120.

Referring to FIG. 5(b), as previously set forth, the fairing attachmentportion 180 can extend from any suitable location at the front portionof the motorcycle to facilitate attachment of the fairing thereto. Thefairing attachment portion 180 can include a post member 182 with a pinopening 184 defined therein extending transversely through the postmember 182. Such a pin opening 184 can be configured to receive a pin186. The pin 186 can include a configuration so as to allow manualinsertion and removal of the pin 186 through the pin opening 184 to lockand secure either the lower or upper coupling portions (not shown) tothe fairing attachment portion 180. The pin 186 employed for the fairingattachment portion 180 can be any suitable pin configuration, such as apost pin, cotter pin, or any other suitable pin configuration known toone of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower and upper coupling portions160 and 170 extending from the fairing frame member 120 can readilyattach to and detach from fairing attachment portions 180. Inparticular, with respect to FIG. 6, the lower coupling portion 160 canextend from the bottom member 132 of the middle portion 122 of thefairing frame member 120 (FIG. 2). The lower coupling portion 160 caninclude an arm member 162 with a hand member 164 extending from the armmember 162. The arm member 162 is configured to extend toward the postmember 182 of one of the fairing attachment portions 180. The handmember 164 can include a coupling opening 166 extending transverselytherethrough and configured to receive the post member 182 therethrough.The pin 186 can then be manually inserted through the pin opening 184 tosecure the lower coupling portion 160 to the fairing attachment portion180.

With respect to FIG. 7, the upper coupling portions 170 can include anL-shaped bracket configuration with a first portion 172 fixed to thefairing frame member 120 and a second portion 174 extending freely fromthe first portion 172. The second portion 174 can include a couplingopening 176 extending transversely therethrough and configured toreceive the post member 182 of one of the fairing attachment portions180. Once the post member 182 is inserted through the coupling opening176, the pin 186 can be inserted through the pin opening 184 to securethe upper coupling portion 170 to the fairing attachment portion 180. Inthis manner, with respect to FIGS. 5(a), 6 and 7, the lower and uppercoupling portions 160 and 170 can be locked and secured to the fairingattachment portions 180 to attach the fairing 110 to the front portion102 of the motorcycle. Likewise, detaching the fairing 110 from themotorcycle can be readily employed by removing the pins 186 from each ofthe fairing attachment portions 180. As such, attachment and detachmentof the modular fairing 110 can be readily employed manually in a quickmanner without the use of tools.

With respect to FIG. 8, in another embodiment, the fairing attachmentportion 280 can include a post member 282 having an internally coupledpin 284 disposed therein. In this embodiment, the pin 284 can berotatably coupled to a shaft 286 with a spring 288 biasing the pin 284in an upward position through a slot 290 defined in the post member 282.The pin 284 can be pushed downward into the slot 290, as indicated byarrow 296, to allow the post member 282 to be inserted into the couplingopening 176 of the upper coupling portion 170 to attach and secure theupper coupling portion 170 to the fairing attachment portion 280.Likewise, when detaching the fairing 110 from the front portion of themotorcycle (not shown), the pin 284 can be held into the slot 290 bymanually moving a sleeve member 292 over such pin 290 as indicated bybidirectional arrow 294 to thereby, allow ready removal of the uppercoupling portion 170 from the post member 282. Such a fairing attachmentportion 280 can be similarly utilized with the lower coupling portion(not shown).

FIG. 9 illustrates a fairing configured to attach to a front portion ofa motorcycle fairing 300 in accordance with an alternative embodiment ofthe present invention. The fairing frame member 301 (shown by dottedlines) at least partially defines the shape of the fairing. The fairingframe member 301 is currently constructed from a hard plastic substance,but may be made from any moderately durable and rigid material.

Multiple coupling portions 302 are positioned on the fairing framemember. In this embodiment the coupling portions use a common techniquewherein pins with a larger head portion shown by 303 in FIG. 9(a) areconfigured to insert into the coupling portions 302 on the fairing framemember and lock into place by sliding the fairing 300 downward withrespect to the pins 303.

The at least one flexible fairing cover portion 304 covers the fairingframe member everywhere except where the coupling portions 302 arelocated. The fairing cover portion 304 has a circular opening 305 to fitaround a motorcycle headlight when attached. As in the previousembodiments the fairing cover can be formed from any suitable flexiblematerial, such as, canvas, vinyl, polymeric blends, leather, syntheticleather and any other suitable material known to one of ordinary skillin the art.

In this embodiment the fairing cover need not be continuous below thecircular opening. Leaving this portion open allows for some ease inattaching the fairing around the headlight. Once the fairing is wrappedaround the headlight this open portion may be fastened together by abutton/snap 307, releasable loop such as Velcro® 306, or any otherattachment means. Also, an elastic portion 308 may surround the circularopening 305. The elastic portion 308 could be used whether the fairingcover 304 is or is not continuous below the circular opening 305. Whilenone of these features are necessary, all of them could help accommodatevarious headlight shapes and sizes.

After the fairing frame member 301, along with the flexible fairingcover 304, is detached from the front portion of the motorcycle, it canbe reconfigured into a smaller configuration for storage. Note in FIG. 9that the rigid section of the fairing frame member 301 terminates beforereaching the hole opening 305. This allows the flexible fairing cover304 to fold about a preferential fold region 310 and thus achieve asmaller configuration 312.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 10, whichillustrates a method 400 for removable use of a fairing at the frontportion of a motorcycle to store with the motorcycle. This methodincludes the steps of detaching 402 a fairing, having a fairing framemember and at least one flexible fairing cover, from the front portionof the motorcycle, collapsing 404 the fairing into smaller dimensions,and storing 406 the collapsed fairing with the motorcycle.

It should be noted that the fairing of the present invention couldinclude various configurations depending on the configuration of thefront portion of the motorcycle. For example, some motorcycles mayinclude a primary head-light with smaller head-lights disposed at eachside of the primary head-light. As such, the modular fairing of thepresent invention can be adapted to be formed and configured tocorrespond with most any head-light configuration at the front portionof the motorcycle.

It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are onlyillustrative of the application for the principles of the presentinvention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can bedevised without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention while the present invention has been shown in the drawings andfully described above with particularity and detail in connection withwhat is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferredembodiments(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be madewithout departing from the principles and concepts of the invention asset forth in the claims.

1. A fairing configured to attach to a front portion of a motorcycle,the fairing comprising: a fairing frame member at least partiallydefining a shape for the fairing; multiple coupling portions positionedon the fairing frame member and configured to removably couple the framemember to the front portion of the motorcycle; and at least one flexiblefairing cover portion configured for attachment to and at leastpartially covering the fairing frame member; wherein said fairing framemember and flexible fairing cover are detachable from the front portionof the motorcycle and operable to be reconfigured into a smallerconfiguration for storage.
 2. The fairing of claim 1, wherein thefairing frame member includes multiple support members operable to beremovably coupled to each other to form the fairing frame member.
 3. Thefairing of claim 1, wherein the fairing frame member and at least oneflexible cover includes a modular configuration that facilitates quickassembly/disassembly into smaller components.
 4. The fairing of claim 1,wherein the fairing frame member includes upper and lower couplingportions extending from the frame member that are configured tofacilitate attachment of the fairing to the motorcycle.
 5. The fairingof claim 1, wherein the fairing frame member can be formed of multiplesupport members including a middle portion, first and second sideportions, and intermediate portions to define the shape of the fairing.6. The fairing of claim 5, wherein the multiple support members are atleast partially formed with a tubular formation and can be coupledtogether in a telescopic/mating arrangement.
 7. The fairing of claim 1,wherein the flexible fairing cover is formed of a material selected froma group consisting of canvas, vinyl, polymeric blends, leather, andsynthetic leather.
 8. The fairing of claim 1, wherein the flexiblefairing cover may removably couple to the fairing frame member using anattachment means selected from a list consisting of snaps, releasableloops, and straps.
 9. The fairing of claim 1, wherein the flexiblefairing cover has an opening configured to fit around a headlight on thefront of the motorcycle.
 10. The fairing cover of claim 9, wherein theopening is lined with an elastic-type material to fit various shapes andsizes of headlights.
 11. The fairing of claim 1, wherein the fairing isconfigured to attach to the front portion of a windshield.
 12. Thefairing of claim 1, wherein the fairing frame member is formed with adurable and rigid skeletal member.
 13. The fairing frame member of claim12, wherein the skeletal member is made of plastic-type material. 14.The fairing of claim 1, further comprising a preferential fold regionwithin the cover portion for reconfiguration of the fairing into thesmaller configuration by folding the flexible cover while it containsthe frame member.
 15. A motorcycle comprising: a front portion includingat least one head-light and multiple fairing attachment portionsdisposed on the front portion; a fairing frame member at least partiallydefining a shape of the fairing; multiple coupling portions positionedon the fairing frame member and configured to removably couple the framemember to the multiple fairing attachment portions on the front portionof the motorcycle; and at least one flexible fairing cover portionconfigured for attachment to and at least partially covering the fairingframe member; wherein said fairing frame member is detachable from thefront portion of the motorcycle and operable to be reconfigured into asmaller configuration for storing with the motorcycle.
 16. The fairingof claim 15, wherein the fairing frame member includes multiple supportmembers operable to be removably coupled to each other to form thefairing frame member.
 17. The fairing of claim 15, wherein the fairingframe member and at least one flexible cover includes a modularconfiguration that facilitates quick assembly/disassembly into smallercomponents.
 18. The fairing of claim 15, wherein the fairing framemember includes upper and lower coupling portions extending from theframe member that are configured to facilitate attachment of the fairingto the motorcycle.
 19. The fairing of claim 15, wherein the fairingframe member can be formed of multiple support members including amiddle portion, first and second side portions, and intermediateportions to define the shape of the fairing.
 20. The fairing of claim19, wherein the multiple support members are at least partially formedwith a tubular formation and can be coupled together in atelescopic/mating arrangement.
 21. The fairing of claim 15, wherein theflexible fairing cover is formed of a material selected from a groupconsisting of canvas, vinyl, polymeric blends, leather, and syntheticleather.
 22. The fairing of claim 15, wherein the flexible fairing covermay removably couple to the fairing frame member using an attachmentmeans selected from a list consisting of snaps, releasable loops, andstraps.
 23. The fairing of claim 15, wherein the flexible fairing coverhas an opening configured to fit around a headlight on the front of themotorcycle.
 24. The fairing cover of claim 23 wherein the opening islined with an elastic-type material to fit various shapes and sizes ofheadlights.
 25. The fairing of claim 15, wherein the fairing isconfigured to attach to the front portion of a windshield.
 26. Thefairing of claim 15, wherein the fairing frame member is formed with adurable and rigid skeletal member.
 27. The fairing frame member of claim26, wherein the skeletal member is made of plastic-type material. 28.The fairing of claim 15, further comprising a preferential fold regionwithin the cover portion for reconfiguration of the fairing into thesmaller configuration by folding the flexible cover while it containsthe frame member.
 29. A method for removable use of a fairing at thefront portion of a motorcycle to store with the motorcycle, the methodcomprising: detaching a fairing, having a fairing frame member and atleast one flexible fairing cover, from the front portion of themotorcycle; collapsing the fairing into smaller dimension; and storingthe collapsed fairing with the motorcycle.
 30. The method of claim 29,wherein collapsing the fairing into smaller dimension includes removingthe at least one flexible fairing cover from the fairing frame member.31. The method of claim 29, wherein collapsing the fairing into smallerdimension includes disassembling the fairing frame member into smallercompact components.
 32. The method of claim 29, wherein collapsing thefairing into smaller dimension includes folding the fairing cover alongwith the frame member.